Tworząc pytania za pomocą mowy zależnej należy pamiętać o dwóch, bardzo ważnych rzeczach:
1) czasownik musi zostać „cofnięty” do czasu przeszłego, zgodnie z zasadami dotyczącymi mowy zależnej
2) należy pozbyć się inwersji, która towarzyszy budowaniu pytań za pomocą mowy niezależnej
Jeśli czasownikiem głównym jest czasownik być (to be), a zdanie zaczyna się od WHAT, WHO, HOW, WHEN lub WHERE, wówczas wędruje on na koniec zdania, jak w przykładzie powyżej.
Jill: “How are you?”
WRONG! Jill asked me how was I. WRONG!
Jill asked me how I was.
Jeśli czasownikiem głównym jest innym czasownik niż czasownik modalny, któremu w pytaniu towarzyszy czasownik posiłkowy DO / DOES / DID , wówczas zamiast niego w mowie zależnej występuje IF , po nim OSOBA , a potem CZASOWNIK w odpowiedniej formie.
Jill: „Do you have a dog?”
WRONG! Jill asked my did I have a dog. WRONG!
Jill asked me if I had a dog.
1. Present simple -> past simple
Jill: “Is Sarah ill.”
Jill asked me if Sarah was ill.
2. Present continuous -> past continuous
Jill: “Is Sarah having dinner now.”
Jill asked me if Sarah was having dinner (then).
3. Present perfect -> past perfect
Jill: “Has Sarah broken a leg.”
Jill asked me if Sarah has broken a leg.
4. Present perfect continuous -> past perfect continuous
Jill: “Has Sarah been looking for a job since May?.”
Jill asked me if Sarah had been looking for a job since May.
5. Past simple -> past perfect (okazjonalnie past simple)
Jill: “Did Sarah call yesterday.”
Jill asked me if Sarah had called (the day before).
6. Past continuous -> past continuous może zostać, jeśli dwie czynności działy się w jednym czasie
Jill: “Was Sarah eating dinner when Tim called.”
Jill asked me if Sarah was eating dinner when Tim called.
7. Past perfect -> past perfect
Jill: “Had Sarah had a baby before she married Tom.”
Jill asked me if Sarah had had a baby before she married Tom.
8. Past perfect continuous -> past perfect continuous
Jill: “Had Sarah been looking for a job before she married Tom?.”
Jill asked me if Sarah had been looking for a job before she married Tom.
9. Future simple -> WOULD + present simple
Jill: “Will Sarah be here tomorrow”.
Jill asked me if Sarah would be here the next day.
10. Future continuous -> Past continuous
Jill: “Will Sarah be sleeping this time tomorrow”.
Jill asked me if Sarah would be sleeping that time the next day.
11. Future perfect ->WOULD + present perfect
Jill: “Will Sarah have finished her work by 7”.
Jill asked me if Sarah would have finished her work by 7.
12.Future perfect continuous ->WOULD + present perfect continuous
Jill: “Will Sarah have been looking for a job for 5 months next week?”.
Jill asked me if Sarah would have been looking for a job for 5 months next week.
